Daily Devotions from The Word Of God… From the heart of Ed Algreen

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: Luke 4:9–13Today’s Bible Text: 9–11 For the third test the Devil took him to Jerusalem and put him on top of the Temple. He said, “If you are God’s Son, jump. It’s written, isn’t it, that ‘he has placed you in the care of angels to protect you; they will catch you; you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone’?”12 “Yes,” said Jesus, “and it’s also written, ‘Don’t you dare tempt the Lord your God.’ ”13 That completed the testing. The Devil retreated temporarily, lying in wait for another opportunity.The Bible Translation:The Message (MSG)

My Take Away:I believe that many of us may feel like we are exempt from temptation. Perhaps it’s because we work around the church, or perhaps we stay in the country most of our lives and hardly ever visit the city, where it appears like sin is rampant. Perhaps we thank God because we might even be the pastor of a church, and we really don’t hit the streets too much, so temptation is at a bare minimum, we might think. Friends, Jesus had just been baptized in the Jordan river, and He left the scene ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’. But He was not led to the temple to escape the temptations of the world, instead He was led by the same Spirit, that led Him to be baptized, into the Wilderness where Satan tried to see what He really stood for. Now most church attendees know this story well, for they know that Jesus was tempted three times, and each time Jesus quoted scripture to defend His stand against Satan. In the above verses you can read the third temptation, where even Satan quoted scripture as he tempted Jesus. Does this make you think about the possibility of a wolf in sheep’s clothing? You know, that it is possible where even someone at church who appears to be very close to God, yet they might tempt you in some way? Possibly, yes! Does this mean that it might be possible that someone who is constantly quoting scripture to, or around you, might actually be the very one that might take Satan’s place in tempting you? Possibly, yes! Friends, verse 13 is really what caught my attention, as God warns us that Satan may have appeared to have retreated from us, but he is really lying in wait for another opportunity – a weak moment. Jesus used scripture to defend Himself against the power of Satan, what will be your shield, or your defense mechanism? I am convinced that none of us are exempt, so unless we have our minds made up and our shield in place, guess what? We are prime candidates for Satan to advance from his waiting position and harp on us next. Friends, may I encourage you to seek God’s face and acknowledge your unworthiness, and your helplessness to fight against the evil one? Our strength comes from the Lord, friends. Let us then lift up our heads to the only One powerful enough to fight the awful temptation that lurks around the corner every day. Jesus is our Protector, Friend, Lord of all lords, King of all kings, Master of this universe and our soon coming King! Let us then be found faithful and true each and every day!

Prayer:Father, we acknowledge You as Lord of this universe and Lord over our lives. I acknowledge You as my personal Savior and King. Please help us to stay so close to You Lord Jesus, that Satan will hit a brick wall every time that He comes our way. We need You Lord Jesus, for we want others to see You very prevalent in our lives so that they might be convinced of Your power and Your love, and therefore have a growing desire to invite You into their lives. For those who call You Lord, please protect us today and make us strong against the evil deeds of Satan. Only through Your power can we overcome the evil one, so we are depending heavily on Your everlasting love and power. I ask all this in the name of Jesus, the All-Powerful One, AMEN!

Footnote:If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

Comments on: "What Is Your Shield When Tempted?" (2)

Quite right. We have to avoid temptation but it doesn’t avoid us and then we need to stand firm and remember that we died and He now lives in us. He is my rock and my salvation, the stronghold of my life – I have to stay on and in Him. It’s when I go it alone that I fall.
Thank you.